The Public Services Department administers all NAB activities relative to capital projects and public works. The duties include functions in the fields of transportation and public functions that the NAB adopts.
About the Public Services Director
Nathan Kotch Jr. has been a resident of the Northwest Arctic Borough since 1975. He was appointed as the Director of Public Services for the Northwest Arctic Borough in November 2018 after serving as the Governmental Affairs Director the past two years, in the previous administration.
Nathan is originally from Hawaii and came to Kotzebue as a member of the United States Air Force in 1975. He graduated high school in 1972 at Leilehua High School in Wahiawa, Hawaii. He attended college in Chapman, California while in the service, and then at the University of Alaska Chukchi Campus in Kotzebue. A majority of his work experience has been in the social services field, along with business administration and management. He previously worked for over 23 years at Maniilaq Association, the native non-profit, and served for 27 years on the Kotzebue City Council.
He has high work ethic standards, and a philosophy that dependability and accountability are important in setting an example to co-workers and staff. He sees employees as the most important asset to any company’s success.
Nathan is married to Betty Nelson, a resident born to John and Josephine Nelson and raised in Kotzebue. Together they have 4 children: Chris, Keoni, Nicholas, and Keolani, who were all raised and graduated in Kotzebue.
